Dock Protector For Use With A Floating Dock

ABSTRACT

Aspects of the present disclosure are directed to a dock protector apparatus. The apparatus includes an elongated pipe and a flange. A floating dock includes at least one floating dock section coupled to mooring pipes secured to a river or lake bed. The mooring pipes are slidably coupled and to the dock section by pipe sleeve assemblies that enable the dock section to slide vertically along the mooring posts. A dock protector apparatus is inserted within an interior cavity of each mooring pipe. Under tidal surge conditions, the decking may reach a vertical position above a top end of the mooring posts. In order to present the deck section from becoming decoupled from the mooring posts, the dock protector apparatus extends upwardly and remains coupled to both the mooring posts and the dock section, thereby maintaining an essentially laterally-rigid mooring between the dock section and the mooring post.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of priority under 35 §119(e) to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/544,463, filed Oct. 7, 2011 and entitled “Dock Protector,” and is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety herein.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This disclosure relates generally to methods and apparatus for marine mooring applications. More specifically, the disclosure relates to methods and apparatus for securing floating docks to mooring posts under extreme tidal conditions.

BACKGROUND

It is well known that the mooring of floating docks to pilings is often complicated by changing tides. In some areas, the vertical movement of the dock from low tide to high tide may be so great as to cause great stress, friction and wear to both the docks and the mooring poles which hold such docks in place. For example, a dock may be moored to one or more mooring piles utilizing chains, chain covered by PVC pipe segments or metal brackets. As tide levels cycle throughout the day, both dock and pile are subjected to wear and damage caused by the movement of each relative to the other. In addition, waves, wake and other water disturbances may cause additional damage to either or both of the pilings and docks by virtue of the impacts of one against the other. In addition, a floating dock secured to a mooring post may become dangerously tilted, damaged and/or capsized during tide changes if the means of securing the dock to the pile(s) does not allow for sufficient vertical movement during extreme tide surges or swells due for example to hurricanes and other storm activities.

FIG. 1 illustrates a conventional floating dock 100. The dock 100 as depicted includes first and second dock sections 14 and 18, respectively, but could include fewer or more sections as desired. Additionally, other configurations for the dock 100 could be substituted (for example, L-shaped configurations, T-shaped configurations, multiple slip configurations, and the like). Each section 14, 18 may include a frame 22 that supports decking 26. Each section 14, 18 also includes one or more floats 30 coupled to the underside of the frame 14 for floatably supporting the frame 22 and decking 26 above the water. The two sections 14, 18 may be pivotably coupled by hinge joints 34 on the frames 22.

Section 18 as depicted further includes two substantially identical pipe sleeve assemblies 38 (only one is shown) coupled to the frame 22 on opposing mounting surfaces 42 of the frame 22. The pipe sleeve assemblies 38 slidably support and retain respective support members in the form of posts or pipes 46. As used herein and in the appended claims, the term “pipe” is not intended to be limited for example to only a hollow member having a generally circular cross section. Instead, the term “pipe” can include elongated hollow members of any cross-sectional shape.

As shown in greater detail in FIG. 2, and further described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,153,064 to Seilinger et al., which issued on Dec. 26, 2006 and is incorporated by reference in its entirety herein, each pipe 46 may include an auger portion 50 configured to screw into a bed of an associated body of water (for example, a river bed or lake bottom), thereby securing the pipes 46 in position. Alternatively, the pipes 46 could be secured by being driven into the river bed or lake bottom (for example, by a conventional pile driver), or having a lower portion embedded in a concrete block or other weighted footing configured to sit on the river bed or lake bottom. As depicted in FIG. 2, the pipe sleeve assemblies 38 retain the pipes 46, while providing a free-floating fit that enables the pipe sleeve assemblies 38, and therefore the entire dock section 18, to move vertically relative to the pipes 46 to accommodate variations in the water level. Pipe sleeve assembly 38 includes a base plate 54 and a sleeve portion 58 configured to be removably coupled to the base plate 54 for slidably supporting the pipe 46 in the pipe sleeve assembly 38.

SUMMARY

Briefly, aspects of the present disclosure are directed to a dock protector apparatus for securing a floating dock section to a mooring post. In a first aspect, the apparatus includes an elongated pipe and a flange affixed to the elongated pipe near a top end of the pipe.

The apparatus may be used as part of a mooring system for a floating dock system that includes at least one floating dock section having a frame, decking attached to an upper surface of the frame, and one or more floats coupled to an underside of the frame for floating the dock section. In addition to the dock section, one or more mooring posts are secured to an underlying river or lake bed, and one or more pipe sleeve assemblies are affixed to the dock section and slidably coupled to the mooring posts. In this configuration, the floating dock section can slide vertically along the mooring posts to accommodate various tidal conditions

Added to this system are one or more dock protector apparatus each inserted within an interior cavity of a corresponding one of the one or more mooring posts. The interior cavity of each mooring post corresponds to the shape of an outer surface of the elongated pipe of the dock protector apparatus, and is slightly larger to allow the elongated pipe to be slidably moved within the cavity.

When the dock section is moving to accommodated normal tidal conditions, the surface of the decking will generally be positioned below a top end of the mooring posts. In this position, the elongated member of each dock protector apparatus reaches a maximally-inserted position in the cavity of the mooring post that is maintained by the flange member, which abuts the top end of the mooring post in this position.

Under tidal surge conditions in which tidal levels are substantially higher than normally expected, the surface of the decking of the dock section may reach a vertical position above a top end of the mooring posts. In order to prevent the deck section from becoming decoupled from the mooring posts, the dock protector apparatus remains coupled to both the mooring posts and the dock section. More specifically, as the decking of the dock section rises, the decking makes contact with the flange member of the dock protector apparatus and the elongated member is partially withdrawn from the mooring post as the dock section rises. Because the elongated member remains coupled both to the mooring post and to a pipe sleeve assembly fastened to the dock section, this assembly maintains an essentially laterally-rigid coupling between the dock section and the mooring post.

In another aspect, the dock protector apparatus also includes a closed cap member applied over the top end of the elongated member. The cap member is preferably formed from soft plastic such as final to facilitate more comfortable handling of the apparatus, and to prevent foreign matter from entering a hollow cavity of the elongated member.

In another aspect, the elongated member of the dock protector apparatus is a hollow cylindrical pipe and the flange member is a ring-shaped molding or stamping. Preferably, the cylindrical pipe is a steel pipe, the flange member is a steel stamping, and each of the pipe and the flange member are hot-dip galvanized.

This SUMMARY is provided to briefly identify some aspects of the present disclosure that are further described below in the DESCRIPTION. This SUMMARY is not intended to identify key or essential features of the present disclosure nor is it intended to limit the scope of any claims.

The term “aspects” is to be read as “at least one aspect”. The aspects described above and other aspects of the present disclosure described herein are illustrated by way of example(s) and not limited in the accompanying drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

A more complete understanding of the present disclosure may be realized by reference to the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a conventional floating dock;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a portion of the conventional floating dock of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3A is a front schematic view of a dock protector in accordance with aspects of the current disclosure;

FIG. 3B is a top schematic view of the dock protector of FIG. 3A;

FIG. 4 is a schematic view of a floating dock subject to a normal tide condition, according to aspects of the present disclosure; and

FIG. 5 is a schematic view of a floating dock subject to a tidal surge condition, according to aspects of the present disclosure.

The illustrative embodiments are described more fully by the Figures and detailed description. The inventions as claimed may, however, be embodied in various forms and are not intended to be limited to specific embodiments described in the Figures and detailed description.

DESCRIPTION

The following merely illustrates the principles of the disclosure. It will thus be appreciated that those skilled in the art will be able to devise various arrangements which, although not explicitly described or shown herein, embody the principles of the disclosure and are included within its spirit and scope.

Furthermore, all examples and conditional language recited herein are principally intended expressly to be only for pedagogical purposes to aid the reader in understanding the principles of the disclosure and the concepts contributed by the inventor(s) to furthering the art, and are to be construed as being without limitation to such specifically recited examples and conditions.

Moreover, all statements herein reciting principles, aspects, and embodiments of the disclosure, as well as specific examples thereof, are intended to encompass both structural and functional equivalents thereof. Additionally, it is intended that such equivalents include both currently known equivalents as well as equivalents developed in the future, i.e., any elements developed that perform the same function, regardless of structure.

Unless otherwise explicitly specified herein, the drawings are not drawn to scale.

We now provide some non-limiting, illustrative examples that illustrate several operational aspects of various arrangements and alternative embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3A provides a front schematic view of a dock protector 300 in accordance with aspects of the current disclosure. The dock protector 300 as depicted in FIG. 3A comprises an insertable pipe member 302, which may for example be formed from a length of a conventional steel pipe having a 1 inch inner diameter and a 1¼ inch outer diameter, and extending for an overall length that is preferably in excess of an expected vertical height difference experienced by a given floating dock section 14, 18 between a low tide period and a high tide period. The vertical height at the high tide period may preferably be based on a vertical height under storm or other extreme weather conditions. In some aspects of the disclosure, the length of pipe member 302 may be approximately 60 inches.

FIG. 3B is a top schematic view of the dock protector 300 of FIG. 3A. With reference to each to FIGS. 3A and 3B, a flange member 304 is positioned and fastened near an upper end of the pipe member 302 (for example, at a position 4½ inches below the upper end of the pipe member 302). As depicted, the flange member 304 may be formed, for example, as a ring-shaped, sheet steel stamping having an inner aperture with a diameter approximately equal to the outer diameter of the pipe member 302. Under these conditions, the flange member 304 may preferably be welded to the pipe member 302. Alternatively, the inner aperture may have a diameter that is slightly smaller than the outer diameter of the pipe member 302 so that the flange 304 may be press-fit onto the pipe member or fastened by means of a suitable structural adhesive. Additionally, for increased strength, the flange member 304 may be both press-fit and welded, or press-fit and fastened by means of the structural adhesive.

Each of the pipe member 302 and flange member 304 may further receive a conventional surface treatment for corrosion prevention (for example, by means of one or more of conventional anodizing, electroless plating, electroplating and/or conversion coating treatments). Alternatively, one or more of the pipe member 302 and flange member 304 may be formed from corrosion-resistant, high strength plastic or composite-reinforced plastics. If formed from steel, the pipe member 302 and flange member 304 are preferably surface-treated by a conventional hot-dip galvanizing process.

The dock protector 300 may also preferably include an end cap 306 that is fitted over a top end of the pipe member 302. The end cap 306 may preferably be secured to the pipe member 302 by means of a friction fit, or by applying a suitable adhesive. Alternatively, each of the an outer surface of the upper end of the pipe member 302 and an inner surface the end cap 306 may be provided with one of an annular ring or an annular groove which are together mated to provide a snap-fit retention feature to the assembled pipe member 302 and end cap 306. In applications where the pipe member 302 is hollow, the end cap 306 prevents the intrusion of any foreign matter into the hollow portion of the pipe member 302. In addition, the end cap may preferably be formed from a variety of materials including, for example, vinyl plastics, foam plastics, silicone plastics, and rubber compounds.

FIG. 4 provides a schematic view of a section 14, 18 of a floating dock according to aspects of the present disclosure. As depicted in FIG. 4, two pipes 46 have been secured in a river bed 402 (for example, by a pile driver), each being retained by a pipe sleeve assembly 38 mounted to a mounting surface 42 of a frame 22 of the section 14, 18. A lower portion of the pipe member 302 of a dock protector 300 is inserted into an inner cavity of each pipe 46. Under a normal tide condition, a decking surface 26 of the dock section 14, 18 rests at an approximate height 406 above the river bed. In this position, a top end 404 of each pipe 46 extends above the decking surface 26 of the dock section 14, 18, and a lower surface of the flange member 304 of each dock protector 300 extends over and rests on the top end 404 of each pipe 46.

FIG. 5 provides a second schematic view of dock section 14, 18, subject to a tidal surge under which the decking surface 26 of the dock section 14, 18 rests at an approximate height 506 above the river bed. In this position, the decking surface 26 has risen vertically from the low tide position of FIG. 4 to extend above the top end 404 of each pipe 46. In a conventional floating dock arrangement, the dock section 14, 18 subjected to the tidal surge would be decoupled from the pipes 46 at the height 506 and no longer moored. Once the surge subsides and the decking surface 26 returns to the height 406 under normal tide conditions, it is likely that the dock section 14, 18 and the pipes 46 would require human assistance to be reassembled.

In accordance with aspects of the present disclosure, and as the decking surface 26 rises, the lower surface of the flange member 304 of each dock protector 300 comes into contact with the decking surface 26, causing a lower portion 508 of each dock protector 300 to be partially withdrawn from the inner cavity of each pipe 46. A sufficient portion of the lower portion 508 of each dock protector 300 (preferably, for example, equal in length to at least 50 percent of the length of the lower portion 508) remains within the inner cavity of its mating pipe 46 to enable the dock protector 300 and pipe 46 to provide an essentially laterally-rigid coupling between the dock section 14, 18 and the pipes 46 during the tidal surge. When the surge subsides and the decking surface 26 returns to the height 406, gravity operates to allow the lower portions 508 to further re-enter the inner cavities of the pipes 46 until the decking surface 26 reaches a height below the heights of the top ends 404 of the pipes 46 and the lower surfaces of the flange members 304 come to rest in proximity to the top ends 404 of the pipes 46.

At this point, while we have presented this disclosure using some specific examples, those skilled in the art will recognize that our teachings are not so limited. Accordingly, this disclosure should be only limited by the scope of the claims attached hereto. 

I claim:
 1. An apparatus for securing a floating dock section to a mooring post, the apparatus comprising: an elongated member having a longitudinal axis and configured to be slidably inserted within an interior cavity of the mooring post; and a flange member affixed to the elongated member along the longitudinal axis and near a top end of the elongated member, wherein the flange member is configured, upon reaching a top end of the mooring post, to prevent the further the insertion of the elongated member into the cavity of the mooring post beyond a predetermined length.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the flange member is affixed along the longitudinal axis approximately 4½ inches from the top end of the elongated member.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a cap member applied over the top end of the elongated member.
 4. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the cap member comprises one or more materials selected from the group consisting of vinyl plastics, foam plastics, silicone plastics, and rubber compounds.
 5. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein: the elongated member comprises a cylindrical pipe; and the cap member is a vinyl end cap having an applied inner diameter of approximately 1¼ inches and having a length of approximately 4 inches.
 6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the elongated member comprises a cylindrical pipe.
 7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the cylindrical pipe is a hollow steel pipe and the flange member is a ring-shaped, sheet steel stamping.
 8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein each of the cylindrical pipe and the flange member are hot-dip galvanized.
 9. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the cylindrical pipe has an inner diameter of approximately 1 inch.
 10. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the flange has an outer diameter of approximately 3.5 inches
 11. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the cylindrical pipe is approximately 60 inches in length.
 12. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the flange member is a 12 gauge sheet steel stamping.
 13. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the flange member is affixed to the cylindrical pipe as a welded member.
 14. A floating dock system comprising: at least one floating dock section including a frame, decking attached to an upper surface of the frame, and one or more floats coupled to an underside of the frame for floatably supporting the frame; one or more mooring posts configured to be secured relative to a bed underlying a body of water; one or more pipe sleeve assemblies each fixedly coupled to the floating dock section and slidably coupled to one of the one or more mooring posts, whereby the floating dock may be slidably movable along longitudinal axes of the one or more mooring posts according to a tidal condition of the body of water; and one or more dock protector elements each including an elongated member having a longitudinal axis and a flange member affixed to the elongated member along the longitudinal axis and near a top end of the elongated member, wherein a lower portion of the elongated member of each of the one or more dock protector elements is slidably inserted within an interior cavity of a corresponding one of the one or more mooring posts; wherein while an upper surface of the decking of the dock section is at a first predetermined position below a top end of the one or more mooring posts, the elongated member of each dock protector reaches a maximally-inserted position in the cavity of the mooring post and the flange member abuts the top end of the mooring post, and wherein while an upper surface of the decking of the dock section is at a second predetermined position above a top end of the one or more mooring posts, the elongated member of each dock protector is partially withdrawn from the maximally-inserted position and the flange member abuts the upper surface of the decking of the dock section.
 15. The system of claim 14, wherein the system maintains a laterally rigid coupling of the dock section to the mooring posts at each of the first and second predetermined positions.
 16. The system of claim 14, wherein each of the one or more dock protector elements further comprises a cap member applied over the top end of the elongated member of the dock protector element.
 17. The system of claim 14, wherein each of the one or more mooring posts and the elongated member of each of the one or more dock protector elements comprises a cylindrical pipe.
 18. The system of claim 6, wherein the cylindrical pipe of each elongated member is a hollow steel pipe and the flange member of each of the one or more dock protector elements is a ring-shaped, sheet steel stamping.
 19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein each cylindrical pipe and flange member of the one or more dock protector elements are hot-dip galvanized.
 20. A method for securing a floating dock comprising at least one floating dock sections including a frame, decking attached to an upper surface of the frame, and one or more floats coupled to an underside of the frame for floatably supporting the frame, the method comprising the steps of: securing one or more mooring posts a bed underlying a body of water; providing one or more pipe sleeve assemblies each fixedly coupled to the floating dock section and slidably coupled to one of the one or more mooring posts, whereby the floating dock may be slidably movable along longitudinal axes of the one or more mooring posts according to a tidal condition of the body of water; and providing one or more dock protector elements each slidably inserted within an interior cavity of a corresponding one of the one or more mooring posts and including an elongated member having a longitudinal axis and a flange member affixed to the elongated member along the longitudinal axis and near a top end of the elongated member, wherein while an upper surface of the decking of the dock section is at a first predetermined position below a top end of the one or more mooring posts, the elongated member of each dock protector reaches a maximally-inserted position in the cavity of the mooring post and the flange member abuts the top end of the mooring post, wherein while an upper surface of the decking of the dock section is at a second predetermined position above a top end of the one or more mooring posts, the elongated member of each dock protector is partially withdrawn from the maximally-inserted position and the flange member abuts the upper surface of the decking of the dock section, and whereby a laterally rigid coupling of the dock section to the one or more mooring posts is maintained at each of the first and second predetermined positions. 